Oldham coach spoilt for choice

OLDHAM coach Tony Benson has an embarrassment of riches at half-back as he contemplates his team for Sunday’s trip to Gateshead.

With Matty Ashe fit again after a hip problem, Benson must choose two from three.

And that means he has the luxury of leaving out Ashe, on-loan teenage star Gregg McNally or the hugely-experienced Neil Roden.

Injured prop Luke Sutton and Kiwi utility man Valu Bentley will miss out on the trip to the North-East.

It's a month since Sutton damaged a knee in the 40-26 win against promotion rivals Blackpool Panthers at Whitebank, but he is still on treatment and rehab - and he will be for some time yet.

Bentley was among the substitutes in the 28-18 defeat of Doncaster last time out following a long lay-off with collar bone trouble, but his comeback has been cut short because he is away on business this weekend.

Martin Roden (ankle), Wayne Kerr (shoulder), Craig Robinson (groin), and Ben Heaton (thumb) have all been given a clean bill of health.

Oldham (from): O'Connor, Onyango, St Hilaire, Fogerty, Gillam, N Roden, McNally, Ashe, Boults, Clarke, M Roden, Whitmore, Kerr, Ellison, Robinson, Chandler, Heaton, Hodson, Reilly.

It will be a big day for full-back Paul O'Connor, who will be making his 100th appearance for the club.

Match preview on page 33.

LEWIS Brooks, an 18-year-old winger from Salford, will make his debut for Roughyeds' reserves against Dewsbury Rams at Whitebank tonight (7.30pm).

Reserves (from): Brocklehurst, Brooks, Williams, J Knight, Chetwynd, Diveney, Connick, Mellor, Mansfield, Marsden, Watkins, Ward, Walker, Barrowclough, D Knight, Joy, Smith, Lowe, Coates.

THE first team's game at Blackpool, originally scheduled for Saturday, July 24, has been moved to the next day, Sunday, July 25 (3pm kick-off) at Blackpool's request.